Door closer



April 9, 1929. J. w. HORNBERGER 1,708,365

DOOR CLOSER Filed Jan. 2v, '1927 2 sheets-sheet l WINVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

J. W. HORNBERGER April 9, 1929.

DOOR CLOSER Filed Jan- 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENr'oR.

ATTORNEYL Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,798,355 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. E'IORNBERGER, GF SAHILLINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNDR TO READNG HAB-DW'ARE GGBEORATON, A CORPGRATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA,

DOOR CLOSER.

Application filed January 27, 1927.

My invention is particularly adapted to door closers such as are commonly employed in connection with checking means for controlling the spring action; but my improvements relate especially toA the spring ymechanism thereof, the general purpose being to provide a simply and satisfactorily constructed closer which will be most advantageously operative and which will also be Yis accomplished very simply satisfacstated torily, without involving any changing et the tixedly assembled structure5 and with provision tor normally maintaining the assembled parts in neutral position under desired minimum spring tension preliminary to4k applying the closer to either a right or lett hand door; as 'fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preterred'embodiment ot the invention, the novel features ot which are clearly defined in the subjoined claims.

Fig.y lis mainly a. vertical longitudinal section ot my improveddoor closer, shown in connection with a checking mechanisn'i commonly employed. l l

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view'on the line 2 2 ot Fig, l; the coiled spring being indicated without unduly obstructing the view below it. Y v y Figs.v 3 and 4 are separate plan views ot' the spindle sleeve and casing capV respectively; vthe sleeve showing being modilied.

Fig. 5 indicates a modification ot the preferred construction.

Fig. l illustrates a common 'form of spring` casing 15 combined with a horizontal check cylinder 2g the door-operated spindle loeing` lmounted in the bottom closure 3 ot' the casing and having a cranlr connection 5- to the checkV piston 6 which controls the action of the door closing spring. As already my improvements relate to the doorclosing spring mechanism shown in connecseriai No. 153,890.

tion with the casing l, the spindle ll therein being merel y represented as extending below its suitable mounting in the bottoni closure 3 of the casing for operating the checli piston as is commonly desired.

In my improved construction as shown, an ordinary Vcoiled-plate spring 'i8 is employed to elifect the required closing action upon the door-connected spindle arm ll; such closing tension being imparted to the spring by causing any movement ot' the doorconnected arm l1, from a neutral or state-otr'est position, to tighten the spring by a winding-up action thereon either at its inner or outer end7 asI determined by the direction ot movement ot said arm with the swinging` door. i

As vshown the inner end of the spring is engaged in a recess 8a ot a sleeve 8 mounted directly upon the spindle 4; while its other end is similarly engaged by an outer cylindrical carrier'l therefor which rests upon tlie'bottom closure 3 ot the casing chamber and is rotatably tit-ted to the wall ot the latter independently of the spindle. The turning of the spindle 4 by movement ot its fixedly attached door-connecting arm ll in one direction, l is arranged to impart a corresponding winding-up movement to the rotatable spindle sleeve 8,-this being effected asV shown by contact of the swinging arm ll withv a projecting pin 10 in the flange portion 8l of the sleeve; while an opposite swinging movement ot said arm l1 is arranged to impart a corresponding winding-up movement to the outer spring carrier lof-this being eitected by a spindle arm ilv extending radially within the casing so as to engage the inward project-ing rotating contact 151 on the carrier. The ends ot' the coiled-plate spring as shown, provide a vertically extended engagement with the sleeve 8 and the outer carrier l5.

In order to malte such winding-up movements upon Aone end respectively ot' the spring, effective in increasing the tension` it is ot' course essential in each case that the `other spring end be' liXed during such moveas to provide a stop shoulder 15V adapted to contact with a fixed projection 21 on the bottom closure 3, so as to preventro'tation of the carrier beyond such fixed stop 21 but permitting free rotation thereof in the opposite direction. The top flange 8b on the spindle sleeve 8, rotatable in one direction with the` lsaid contact pin.

The fixed stop 20, as shown, is provided on the top face of a casing cap 22, which is lremovably fitted to the top Yof the casing 1 but is secured thereto, as by set screw 22, so

Y as to normally constitute a fixed part of the lio ` spring.

casing and provide a fixed support for the fianged spindle sleeve 8 resting upon it, and

also a fixed upper bearing for the spindle 4;

the latter function beingeffected through theV spindle sleeve 8, which is rotatablein a fitted central 'aperture of the cap as well as upon the spindle 4. Obviously however, this fixed vstop 2O may be provided directly upon the casing l1 instead of upon a cap 22 therefor', as is indicated at b2 in F ig. 5, which'figure also shows'tlie lintegral flange 8d of the rotary spindle sleeve 8 as adapted to itself form acasing cap. The fact that the'sleeve cap 8d of the Fig. `5 showing, is rotatable by the door-connecting arm 11 of spindle 4 as limited by the casing stop 20h, does not prevent its functioning as an upper bearing for the spindle 4 or affect the essential operation as hereinafter further described.`

In Vthe assembling of the parts of my iinproved closer, a normal or minimum operating tension is puty upon the spring 18; which tension may be varied as required to suit different doors, but in any case sets the movable parts in determined relative position. This normal state-of-rest position of the parts is changed by movement of the door- 'connected spindle arm 11 in either direction,`

with resulting increased tensioning of the 'In 'my improved construction asv shown, this normal tensioning of the spring is variable by means of a circular series of vpin holes 8*in the spindle-sleeve Flange Sb, into one or another of which holes the Contact pin 10, 10a is dropped when the sleeve has been vturned by means of a` suitable wrench so as to impart the desired tension; theouterend of the spring being held immovable by engagemen-t of its outer carrier with the casing stop 21, and the 'pin extension 10 being held Vdetermined tension is secured.

in contact with the casingstop 2O when the In the state of rest under normal tension which is thus secured, the door-connected spindle arm 11- is normally pressed against the contact pin 10of the spring engaged-spindlesleeve 8,

crease of the spring tension respectively by turning of the sleeve 8 while the outer carrier 15 is held by casing stop 21, or by turning 'of the outer carrier 15 while the sleeveis held by casing stop 20. The essential construction of my closer is equally simple and satisfactory, and the details thereof may be readily modified within the scope of my invent-ion as defined in the claims. Y

llVha-tl claim is: Y

1. A door' closer comprising' a coiled-plate spring; a cylindrical casing therefor having fixed top and bottoni closures and stop contacts; a centrally mounted spindle having fixed thereto a ldoor-connectedlever and an interior radial arm a spring-tensioning sleeve rotatable directlyl upon said spindle with limitation in one direction by said top stop-contact and having a lever-engaging projection contact; and a cylindrical springtensioning carrier rotatably fitted to the casing wall inde iendently of the door operated spindle said carrier having its rotation in one direction limited by said bottom stop-contact and being provided with an inwardly extending contact engageable by said radial arm; said spindle slee ve and independently mounted carrier being respectively operated tensioningly by opposite swingings of said doorconnected lever.

2. ln a door closer comprising a casing provided with fixed stops, a spring therein7 a door-operated spindle having an interior radial arm, and a single spring-engaged sleeve upon said spindle having springpressed rotation thereofprevented by one of said stops but rotatable with saidspindle in spi-ing-resist'ed'directiong a cylindrical carf Vprovided with stop contacts, a spring therein,V

a door-operated spindle having an interior radial arm, and a single spring-engaged sleeve upon said' spindle having springpressed rotation thereof prevented by one 5f said stops but rotatable with said spindle in spring-resisted direction; a cylindrical carrier for the outer end of the spring tted t' lll) the easing independently of' the spindle and engageable by said radial arm, said Carrier having a shouldered flange seating in the Casing and adapfed to be spring-pressed against one of said stop contacts.

e. -fr door closer comprising a easing having a bo'lvtom Closure and hated sops; a coiled plaie spring therein; a spindleenpporting` easing cap; a spindle monnied in said boi'foin closure and cap and havingl a dooreonneeting arm fixed to its extending` end ind an inner radial arm; flanged sleeve on Said spindle inrning upon said Cap and engaging the in" l of the springg and a cylindrical Carrier for the on'ier end of the spring apart from the spindle and in roating eonao'e with the wall' said Carrier being ada 3io( to engage one of si id stops and fo be operaively engaged by said radial arm and said spindle sleeve flange having` a Circular series of pin holes and an adjustableL pin Contact therein adapfed to be held in engagement with said arm and one of said fixed stops by deferniinedly varied spring tension 5. A door closer eonngrising a cylindrical casing provided with a fixed bottoni stop and a fixed fop stop, a spindle axially inonned in said Casing ane having` an inner radial arm and a door-Connecting top arin fixed thereto, a top-flanged spring-connecting' sleeve rofatably mounted on Said spindle above said radial arm and provided with an adjnstably set pin adapted to Contact with said doorconneoting spindle arm and with said fixed top stop, a coiled-plaie spring having its inner end engaged by said rofatable sleeve, and a Cylindrical rotary Carrier for the outer end Ahaving` a stop shoulder adapted to engage said fixed boitom stop and an inwardly eX- fending Contact adapted to engage said radial spindle arm; said spring being normally ensioned by deierinined setting' of said f die si-eeve relative to said fixed sfops7 and increasingly tensioned by door-arm 'on either oi' said sleeve or of said inden i nily mounted outer Carrier. (i. Jildoor eloeer comprising a Casing havingl a bottoni Closure and flxed top and bottoni sirops; a coiled-plaie spring iherein; a easing cap; a

fined epindie-supporting spindle mounted in said b fiom Closure and cap and havin# a radial inner arm, and a door-eonneeiino' arm i'ixed to extending end; a flanged Sleeve on said spindle turninc upon said eap and engaging the inner end of' 'the swing; and a cylindrical carrier for the outer e l 'i Y Spring` aparv from the spin oaeing eonaet with the eas- -fflanged spindle Sleeve having` pied respeeively to engage ehe swingable roer-arm and said j[op stop, and said roeaiab e Carrier having` a slop shoulder engagreable willi Said botfom stop and an inwardly exending' Contact projeotion adapted fo engage said radial inner arm, whereby the movable parts are set in deei`- mined relaiive positions by normal fensioning` of the Spring' and are movable therefrom against increasing` tension by either rip-ht or left swinging;` of said door-arm.

In tesimony whereof l aflix my signature.

JCI-IN W. HORNBERGER. 

